Title: Most of Turkey's Population Can't Afford a Week of Vacation, Upgrading Furniture, or Paying Off Debt
The Turkish Statistical Institute (TÜİK) has published the 2024 Poverty and Living Conditions Statistics report. The report contains significant data on changes in poverty rates and living conditions.
The relative poverty rate has increased to 13.6%. According to TÜİK data, the relative poverty rate in 2024 was measured at 13.6%, up by 0.1 percentage points compared to the previous year. This rate, calculated taking into account 50% of the equivalent household disposable median income, showcases the overall economic situation of the society. The poverty rate calculated based on 60% of the median income was determined to be 21.2%, a decrease of 0.1 percentage points.
The report also indicates that poverty rates defined considering 40% and 70% of the median income have decreased. These rates were recorded at 6.9% and 28.9%, respectively, reflecting improvements in the situation of individuals in the low-income group over the year.
The lowest poverty rate is found in single-person households. Analysis based on household type revealed that the poverty rate in single-person households was at its lowest level at 6.5%, which represents a reduction of 0.8 percentage points from the previous year. In households consisting of multiple individuals without a nuclear family, the poverty rate increased to 10.8%, an increase of 3.1 percentage points.
According to the report, the poverty rate in households consisting of at least one nuclear family and other individuals has risen to 17.9%, while the rate for households consisting solely of a nuclear family has increased to 13.4%. The data indicates that family structure has a significant impact on poverty rates.
Education level affects poverty rates. The poverty rate among those without any schooling was determined to be 24.7%, while it was 13.6% for those with education below high school, and 7.4% for high school graduates and equivalents. The poverty rate for higher education graduates is the lowest at 2.7%.
These data suggest that an increase in education level has a positive impact on economic status. Educated individuals tend to have better job opportunities, which stands out as a factor in reducing poverty rates.
Material and social deprivation has decreased. According to TÜİK's 2024 data, the material and social deprivation rate has fallen by 1.1 percentage points to 13.3% compared to the previous year. According to an assessment based on thirteen different criteria, not being able to meet seven or more of them determines the deprivation rate. This figure indicates that individuals have experienced a more comfortable economic year.
Indicators of deprivation include car ownership, the ability to manage unexpected expenses, and regular consumption of meat, chicken, or fish. Improvements in this area reveal increased accessibility to individuals' daily needs.
The continuous poverty rate has increased. The continuous poverty rate calculated using four years of panel data was determined to be 13.7%, representing an increase of 0.7 percentage points compared to the previous year. This rate indicates that individuals have been poor in at least two of the previous three years, demonstrating ongoing economic vulnerability.
The prolonged experience of poverty underscores that many individuals and families have not managed to achieve sustainable economic recovery. This situation highlights the need for socioeconomic policies to yield long-term results.
Regional poverty disparities were also examined. According to the analysis based on NUTS 2 (Nomenclature of Territorial Units for Statistics) regions, the areas with the highest relative poverty rates were TR71 (Kırıkkale, Aksaray, Niğde, Nevşehir, Kırşehir) at 14.6%, followed by TR82 (Kastamonu, Çankırı, Sinop) at 12.3%. The lowest rates were recorded at TRC1 (Gaziantep, Adıyaman, Kilis) at 4.7% and TRC2 (Şanlıurfa, Diyarbakır) at 6.4%.
These regional differences indicate that economic resources are not distributed equally and that living conditions in some regions are more challenging than in others, underscoring the importance of regional development policies.
According to the TÜİK report, 29.3% of the population is at risk of poverty or social exclusion. This figure is estimated to be 38.9% for those aged 0-17, 26.3% for the 18-64 age group, and 23.3% for the 65 and older demographic. The risk of poverty is notably higher among children.
The evolution of poverty and social exclusion across different age groups assists in identifying groups that social policies should target. Reducing these risks is critically important for raising the overall welfare level of society.
Among the population assessed based on a four-year poverty duration considering 50% of the median income, 4.3% could not escape poverty. In contrast, 74.8% were never below the poverty line. These figures indicate that a large portion of society has maintained economic stability, while a specific segment still struggles with economic difficulties.
Long-term poverty poses a challenge for individuals in restructuring their lives. Experts suggest that creating economic support and opportunities for those experiencing this situation should be an essential part of social policies.
Housing issues and burdensome expenses have also come under scrutiny. The report indicates that 31.3% of the population faces structural problems related to housing. Additionally, 56.8% are making debt or installment payments, with 12.5% finding these payments significantly burdensome. This situation illustrates how individuals are impacted by overall economic conditions.
Housing and debt expenses are factors that directly influence individuals' quality of life. Ensuring that these costs remain at sustainable levels is critical for personal and collective welfare.
The majority of the population struggles to afford the cost of a one-week vacation. According to the report, 57.5% of the population cannot afford one week’s vacation expenses, 39.3% struggle to regularly consume proteins, 26.8% cannot manage unexpected expenses, and 59.6% are unable to renew old furniture. This underscores the burden that basic living costs impose on many individuals.
The inability to cover daily living expenses adversely affects individuals' quality of life and overall health. Experts indicate that economic policies should focus on addressing challenges related to access to these basic needs.
The proportion of individuals living in owned homes has decreased to 56.1%, while renters constitute 28%, and those living without paying rent account for 15%. This change indicates a decline in homeownership rates compared to the previous year.
Homeownership is a direct indicator related to economic security. According to experts, maintaining and increasing the level of homeownership in society could be an important step towards enhancing individuals' economic stability.